System for extending a field-of-view of an image acquisition device

1. A system for capturing an extended field-of-view using an image acquisition device, the system comprising:

a rotatable image-directing device that directs optical images along an optical image path;

an actuator that controls a position of the rotatable image-directing device and steps the rotatable image-directing device along the optical image path, allowing the image acquisition device to capture a plurality of images along the optical image path; a controller that generates signals for synchronizing the rotatable image-directing device and the image acquisition device, the signals including a first signal that is transmitted to the actuator and a second signal that is transmitted to the image acquisition device;

a storage component configured to collect image data indicative of the spatial position for each of the plurality of images captured;

a processing component configured to receive the plurality of images and image data indicative of the spatial position of each of the plurality of images from the storage component and perform autostitch processing to generate the extended field-of-view, wherein performing autostitching processing comprises compiling the extended field-of-view by assembling the plurality of images using the image data indicative of spatial position to determine the placement of each image within the extended field-of-view; and

wherein the controller generates signals based on a look-up-table that maps the image acquisition device to a step size along the optical path, wherein the controller is configured to automatically generate signals based on the look-up-table to reduce overlapping image data in the plurality of images along the optical image path.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller synchronizes pan-and-tilt motion of the image acquisition device with the rotatable image-directing device.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein image data indicative of the spatial position of the image comprises a time stamp and location identifying information.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the rotatable image directing device has a single pivot axis, wherein the single pivot axis is perpendicular to the optical image path leaving the image-directing device.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable image-directing device has multiple pivot axes.

6. A system for extending a field-of-view of an image acquisition device, the system comprising:

an image-directing device that pivots about at least one axis; and

an electronics unit that generates first, second, and third signals, the first signal controlling a position of the image-directing device, the second signal controlling the image acquisition device, and the third signal including an image feed for a display wherein the second signal synchronizes the image-directing device and the image acquisition device and further wherein the electronics unit receives images from the image acquisition device and annotates the images with location identifying information; and

a processing unit that utilizes the location identifying information to perform autostitch processing on the images received from the image acquisition device;

wherein the signals are generated based on a look-up-table that maps the image acquisition device to a step size along the optical path, wherein the signals are automatically generated based on the look-up-table to reduce overlapping image data in the plurality of images along the optical image path.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein a plurality of autostitched images are utilized to generate an extended field-of-view video stream.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein annotating the images with location identifying information comprises adding a time stamp and an indication of spatial position to each of the plurality of images.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the autostitch processing includes removing overlapping image data.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the autostitch processing includes removing gaps from adjacent frames of image data.

11. The system of claim 6 , wherein the electronics unit performs change detection by registering and comparing successive frames of image data to each other.

12. The system of claim 6 , wherein the electronics unit receives a user-defined input control parameter.

13. A system comprising:

a scan mirror that pivots about at least one axis of rotation and that directs an image acquisition device to capture images along an image path;

an electronics unit that controls positioning of the scan mirror and positioning of the image acquisition device and that outputs an image feed for a display; and

wherein the electronics unit controls the position of the scan mirror by generating signals based on a look-up-table that maps the image acquisition device to a step size along the optical path, wherein the electronics unit is configured to automatically generate signals based on the look-up-table to reduce overlapping image data in the plurality of images along the optical image path.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the electronics unit synchronizes the positioning of the scan mirror with the positioning of the image acquisition device.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the image feed includes a plurality of images that are autostitched together.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the image feed includes a visual marker that identifies a detected change.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the system further comprises an enclosure that is configured to protect the scan mirror and the electronics unit.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein a plurality of autostitched images are utilized to generate an extended field-of-view video stream.

19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the scan mirror directs the image acquisition device to perform a multi-dimensional scan.